Food and feed manufacture new product development time and cost can be significantly cut using a new AI-driven microbiology platform launched by MOA Food.
The European biotech start-up claims its Albatros platform leverages AI alongside the industry’s most complete microbiology datasets to accelerate NPD from an industry standard of six months to two weeks.
Developing new fermentation-based products is slow and expensive and can take years to complete. However, Albatros tests developed a new ingredient made from upcycled starches 75% faster than traditional methods and at 5% of the typical cost.
AI-driven modelling
“By integrating AI-driven modelling, the platform predicts the best microbial strains and fermentation processes to maximise yield, quality, and functionality,” says founder and CEO Bosco Emparanza García.
Speed is a result of the platform’s ability to predict the best microbial strains and fermentation processes to maximise yield, quality and functionality, according to the company.
This is compared to conventional methods that rely on refined sugars and other high-cost inputs.
Boosting nutritional biomass yield
Albatros analyses characterisation data from food industry byproducts to identify the best microorganisms for fermentation. Using a library of 200 byproducts, the platform can match each one to the most efficient fermentation strategy based on specific goals like boosting nutritional value or biomass yield.
“We developed our groundbreaking technology to speed up the development of new bio-based sustainable products,” says García.
“Using proprietary protocols, Albatros can analyse a microorganism’s DNA and, in just 10 minutes, predict its nutritional needs and how to reprogramme its metabolism. This unlocks huge possibilities with fermentation, and it has the power to transform the food industry.”
The business has trained the AI platform with the industry’s most complete data, including microbes, byproducts, metabolic models, enzymes, and experimental data, enabling data-driven decisions at every stage.